The ringleader of a robbery and blackmail plot involving robberies of brothels across south-west London has been jailed for 10 years.

Daniel Fuller, 25, was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court for his part in dozens of violent robberies at brothels, including several in Surbiton, between June and December 2005.

He was given 10 years for "masterminding" the multiple robberies, whereby he and other men would trick their way into brothels posing as clients and then rob the women inside of earnings, threatening them with hammers and baseball bats.

Fuller, an unemployed dad-of-two from Clifton Road, South Norwood, was also sentenced to five years for attempting to blackmail several women in December of the same year. He threatened to rob them and demanded money. The sentences will run concurrently and Fuller could be free on licence in five years.

Last month his co-defendent and childhood friend Amariah Linton from Bromley was sentenced to nine years for his part in the robberies after pleading guilty at the start of the pair's trial.

The police investigation began after a sex worker from an address in Surbiton reported one of the robberies, and police were able to link robberies across south London.

Officers seized CCTV from one of the brothels, leading to the arrest of Fuller on January 10, 2006.

Passing sentence on Fuller, Judge Shani Barnes said she had given him the lightest possible sentence considering the seriousness of his crimes because he had shown a great deal of remorse.

She said: "You are a very complicated young man - you are both aggressive and threatening to people around you but you are also extremely vulnerable.

"You have a tendency to aggression that you have displayed in court in outbursts that would be infantile from a child. But you are over six foot and can be very threatening."

In mitigation defence barrister James Eaton said that Fuller, who has attention deficit disorder, had fallen into drug abuse as a teenager. Even after giving up drugs a few years ago, he retained friends from those "shadowy areas" and Judge Barnes said she did not believe Fuller was simply following the crowd.

She said: "I believe you masterminded this. It was you who set about this get-rich-quick scheme and were the tall, slim white man present at most of the robberies."

She accepted he had not been a violent member of the group and talked his way into the brothels instead of using force. He also stopped others from hurting the women, but was ultimately responsible for their misery and fear, she said.

Fuller has the support of his family and partner, and Judge Barnes urged him to get his life back on track while he is in custody.

She said: "You are obviously a very, very, bright young man. If you use your wit and ingenuity well you would be a success."

Kingston CID Detective Sergeant Simon Harding said: "It took enormous courage from the girls involved to come forward and give evidence, and they deserve praise for that.

"A 10-year sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes. Fuller is clearly a very dangerous individual."